Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-01-27
Noble Sentiments.

The following are the able remarks
made by Senator Thurman at the Sth
of January banquet at Columbus, last
Friday evening in response to the toast
'"The Union, the common heritage OF
ALL"
JUDGE THURMAN's ADDRESS.
Mr.. PRESIDENT: We have assem-
bled tonight not to make a platform
for the Democratic party of the United
States; not to set at work any party
machinery for the political advance
ment Of any person whomesOeveri not
to sit in judgment upon or to Ostracize
true men of our party, because, in some
particulars they may differ from us in
regard to men or measures; but we are
here assembled to do what we can to
reinvigorate the fundamental princi-
pies of our party; to bring about, as far
as possible, unity of sentiment and of
action; to renew our devotion to the
union of the States, and gather inspira-
tiOn from the example and teachings
of the great men, whose valor and
whose virtues we this night celebrate.
And what better homage can we pay
to him, who fought, when a child, to
achieve our Independence; who fought,
when q man, to maintain and preserve
it, and who, when at the head of the
government, and at the dangerous
crisis of our country's history, uttered
that ever memorable sentiment, "The
Union, it must and shall be maintain
ed" than to declare, as we do in the
toast Just read, that the Union is the
common heritance of patriots? Yes
Mr.. President, it is so, and it ought to
be so. Men may have been misguided
and gone wrong in the past, but what
ever may be mans history, if he is to-
day and means to be in the future a
| true, devoted friend of the Union, that
Union is a part of his heritage. 1t can
not be necessary to speak to an audi
ence like this of the advantages, nay
the necessity Of the Union; butt may
be proper to say something of the
means by which it can be preserved.
For, although the Union may be, and
1 think it is, stronger to-day than il
ever was before, yet it would be a mis-
take to suppose that it will never, in
| the long course of time, encounter
dangers that will sEE$rfs =
REQUIRE THE UTMOST WISDOM AM
.,s1..u PATRIOTISM ..
to meet and to counteract. We have
now population of about 100000
people. If the Union lasts another hun.
dred years, our population at that rate
of increase that has hitherto prevailed
will be nearly or quite 500, ,000, 900, near.
| ly 200, 0,000, 900 more people than now in
habit the whole continent of Europe
So numerous population, intelligent
active, industrious, educated, has never
been seen under the rule of one gov
ernment on the face of the globe.
But if such shall be our condition ont
hundred years hence, what will it b.
when two or three or more centurie:
shall have elapsed? Manifestly to holC
such vast population with q prodig
; ious diversity of interests and occupa
tions, feelings and opinions, firml,
united under one flag, will require de
gree of wisdom, knowledge and patriot
ism that has never been displayed il
the government of mankind. Som
persons suppose that the Union can b
preserved only by the consultations Q
all substantial powers in the hands G
the Federal government, thus, in effect
practically destroying the long cher
ished home rule of our State govern
ments, which has been productive of s
many benefits and of so much content
,. For myself, am of the opinion enter
tained by the fathers of the Democrac
, that such consolidation, instead of be
ing preservative, would be certainly
! s'+ DESTRUCTIVE OF THE UNION. b
While I fully agree with those VIII
assert that the general government
should be cheerfully sustained in tn
: exercises of all the powers conferred uI
} on it by the constitution, I, at the sam
time, think that no feature in our com
plex system of government is more de
serving of preservation, more necessar
for the security of liberty and the pre-
7 motion of the best interests and happi
ness of the people, than the home rul
l of our State governments. And bt
: cause this home rule is the cherishe
8 doctrine of the Democratic party,
r think that the preservation of tt
= party is almost a synonym for the pr
servation of liberty and the Union.
think that the Democratic party is til
Y natural party of free institutions an
r that it will be indestructible so long ;
: freedom exists in America. If I a.
= correct, then to say that we are Dem
f Gratis is to say that we are union me
s and unswerving friends of liberty an
: home rule. There is no time to-nigt
r to discuss so grand theme, the mo
h interesting that could be presented
e the minds by an American citize
e All that 1 can do in concluding m
o hriaf remarks is to cOniure yOu